CHAMBERLAIN PSYCHOLOGY2012-13

What is personality?

Banana Personality Test

 There is a very, very tall coconut tree and there are 4

animals: a Lion, a Chimpanzee, a Giraffe , and a Squirrel, who pass by. They decide to compete to see who is the fastest to get a banana off the tree.

Who do you guess will win? Your answer will reflect your personality so think

carefully . . .. Try to answer within 30 seconds Got your answer? DON’T REVEAL YOUR ANSWER

UNTIL I TELL YOU TO!!

DON’T SAY ANYTHING OUT LOUD!! KEEP YOUR THOUGHTS TO YOURSELF SO THAT YOU DO NOT INFLUENCE OTHERS’ DECISIONS

So what kind of animal are you?

Lion = you're dull. Chimpanzee = you're a moron.Giraffe = you're a complete idiot. Squirrel = you're just hopelessly stupid.A COCONUT TREE DOESN'T HAVE

BANANAS.

Personality

The combination of characteristics or qualities that form an individual's distinctive character.

The characteristic patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors that make a person unique and remain fairly consistent throughout life.

What shapes personality?

Many different theories have existed over the years evolving from the different perspectives. Old theories looked at body type, bodily fluids Behaviorists say traits emerge through reinforcement and

modeling Psychodynamic approach says traits are product of

repressed urges and memories Biopsychologists and evolutionary psychologists say

natural selection, physiological processes, and interaction of genes and environment cause the expression of certain traits in individuals

Trait theorists say there are certain traits that all people have and that individuals just express them in different amounts and combinations

Early theory 1: Hippocrates’ theory

Hippocrates thought personality was determined by an individual’s levels of certain bodily fluids

Personality type

According to Hippocrates’ theory, are you generally choleric, melancholic, sanguine, or phlegmatic? According to Hippocrates’ theory, are you generally choleric, melancholic, sanguine, or phlegmatic?

Early theory 2: Sheldon’s Somatotype Theory

Sheldon thought personality and body type were correlated

Does your personality match your body type according to his theory?

Where would you rate yourself on each scale?

Place an X on each scale to represent yourself

Rate a friend or family member with Y for each scale

How similar or different are you to the “Y” person?

Cattell’s 16 primary traits

How is personality measured?

SurveysInkblot (Rorschach) and “describe the

picture” tests

Big 5 personality test: the most widely accepted personality trait

measurement tool in use today

Go to website to take the Big 5 testThe Big 5 traits are:

openness: strong intellectual curiosity, creativity and a preference for novelty and variety

conscientiousness: disciplined and detail oriented extraversion: outgoing, social agreeableness: helpful, cooperative, and sympathetic

towards others neuroticism : emotional stability, impulse control,

aggressiveness and anxiety

Freudian theory of the unconscious mind

HOW YOUR UNCONSCIOUS AFFECTS YOUR PERSONALITY, BEHAVIORS, THOUGHTS, AND

DREAMS

The mind’s battleground: id, ego, and superego

ego & id

Superego is the mind’s moral compass or “conscience” that judges your actions, makes you feel guilty after you listen to id urges

•Develops over time as we learn society’s expectations and norms

•Emerges around age 5superego

Id is the “animal” and “instinct” part of the mind •Humans are born 100% id•Seeks pleasure and instant gratification regardless of the consequences•Drives selfish behaviors •Resides in the unconscious—influences behaviors and dreams

Id is the “animal” and “instinct” part of the mind •Humans are born 100% id•Seeks pleasure and instant gratification regardless of the consequences•Drives selfish behaviors •Resides in the unconscious—influences behaviors and dreams

Ego = conscious (thinking/aware) part of mind•The part of your mind that thinks through choices and looks for the rational decision•Mediator between id urges and superego judgments•Ego = self-identity•Ego develops as one ages and progresses through developmental stages•Your ego gets bigger when you “do the right thing”, get approval from society for your actions

Unhealthy behaviors are caused by memories repressed in mind’s unconscious

Repress: to lock away from one’s conscious, to hide thoughts from yourself so that you don’t have to deal with them

Unconscious: •NOT a literal structural part of the brain•The part of the mind that lies under the surface of conscious thoughts

Defense MechanismsDefense Mechanisms

• Ego’s way of protecting mind from judgment of superego and to relieve anxiety

• Created involuntarily by ego—not consciously!• Can be healthy in short run, but if underlying cause of defense

mechanism is not addressed, leads to unhealthy behaviors

1. Read your “defense mechanisms” handout.

2. Take notes on looseleaf about:• what defense mechs are & why they happen• a brief definition (in your own words) and example of each of

the 12 types mentioned in the reading

3. Use the readings to help yourself identify the types of defense mechanisms being described on the worksheet.

4. Identify and label each instance of defense mechanism in “A love story” (activity that I will hand out after notes)

Personality Disorders: Behaviors or mental processes that deviate significantly from the norm and impair the person’s life; disorder’s impact on person’s ability to lead healthy, stable life can vary from mild to extreme

3 categories: Odd, dramatic, anxious

3 categories: Odd, dramatic, anxious

Personality Disorders

Personality Disorder Category 1: Odd/eccentric

Personality Disorder Category 1: Odd/eccentric

Paranoid

Schizoid (do not confuse this with schizophrenia!)

Schizotypal

Fearful, suspicious of others

Loner, lack of emotions

Belief in magic, flying saucers, loner

•Odd personality disorders are GENETIC NOT environmental! •.5% - 2.5% of American population has 1 of these “odd” personality disorders

•Odd personality disorders are GENETIC NOT environmental! •.5% - 2.5% of American population has 1 of these “odd” personality disorders

Treatments: Many who suffer from these disorders do not seek treatment; Social skills therapy, anti-psychotics for schizotypalsTreatments: Many who suffer from these disorders do not seek treatment; Social skills therapy, anti-psychotics for schizotypals

Personality Disorder Category 2: Dramatic/emotional

Personality Disorder Category 2: Dramatic/emotional

Anti-social, conduct disorder (psychopath)

Borderline

Histrionic

Narcissist

Lack of regard for moral, legal standards; some but not all are serial killers, rapists—see reading

Lack of self-identity, rapid mood changes, impulsive, unstable relationshipsLack of self-identity, rapid mood changes, impulsive, unstable relationships

“Drama queen”, exaggerates all emotions

Someone who thinks he’s all that, unable to see other’s feelings or viewpoints, need for admiration

Someone who thinks he’s all that, unable to see other’s feelings or viewpoints, need for admiration

Personality disorder Category 3: Anxious/fearful

Avoidant

Dependent

OCD

Intensely shy, sensitive <1% population has this

Extreme dependence on others, unable to make decisions for self, fear of being alone approx 2% population has it

Extreme dependence on others, unable to make decisions for self, fear of being alone approx 2% population has it

Obsessive need for order, cleanliness, or unwanted repetitive thoughts of guilt or desire to to bad things mixed with compulsive, repetitive behaviors (hand washing, walking in a certain pattern, counting) *Note this is also classified under anxiety disorders